Kinetic amusement device

ABSTRACT

A self-contained kinetic amusement device having a circular base provided with a pair of slots which perpendicularly intersect at the center of the said circular base, a pair of horizontally and linearly slidable elements, and crank means connecting both of said elements, so that when said crank means is rotated said elements slide back and forth in their respective slots without blocking each other&#39;&#39;s sliding movement.

United States Patent Knox KINETIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE Inventor: William W. Knox, Concord, Ohio Assignee: Mag-Nif, Inc., Mentor, Ohio Filed: May 13, 1971 App]. No.: 142,698

(1.8. CI ..46/47 Int. Cl. ..A63h 1/32 Field of Search ..46/220, 47, 228; 35/13, 26, 35/34; 33/31 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Price ..46/228 X 51 May 30, 1972 3,032,893 5/1962 Debeh ..33/3l X Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Attorney-Merriam, Marshall, Shapiro & Klose [5 7] ABSTRACT A self-contained kinetic amusement device having a circular base provided with a pair of slots which perpendicularly intersect at the center of the said circular base, a pair of horizontally and linearly slidable elements, and crank means connecting both of said elements, so that when said crank means is rotated said elements slide back and forth in their respective slots without blocking each others sliding movement.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 3,665,639

INVENTOR WILL/AM, n. KNOX 7%; ATTORNEYS KINETIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE The present invention relates to a new and improved, selfcontained kinetic device. In general, it concerns a kinetic amusement device which may provide a source of amusement and entertainment, as well as relieve tension. More particularly, it pertains to such a device which employs a pair of horizontally and linearly slidable elements, each of which slides linearly and horizontally back and forth across each others path without colliding.

According to the present invention, there is provided a kinetic amusement device which is a self-contained unit. The device of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view showing the circular base of the kinetic device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the kinetic device;

FIG. 3 is an elevational, partial sectional view of the kinetic device;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are each top plan views of the kinetic device showing different relative positions of the pair of biconvex lens-shaped elements when the handle of the crank is in the 12:00 oclock and approximately 1:30 oclock and 3:00 oclock positions, respectively; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational, sectional view as viewed along the line 77 of FIG. 4.

As shown in the drawings, the kinetic amusement device 10 comprises a cylindrical or circular base 11 which is provided with a pair of flat, linearly and horizontally slidable, biconvex lens-shaped or double convex elements and 16 and crank 17 which connect elements 15 and 16 with crank 17 so that when crank handle 18 is rotated, elements 15 and 16 slide back and forth in slots 12 and 13, respectively.

Base 11 is provided with a pair of grooves or slots 12 and 13 in the top or upper surface 29 of base 11. Slots l2 and 13 perpendicularly intersect at the center 14 of base 11 and extend from center 14 to the circumference of the upper surface 29 of base 11 and thus divide upper surface 29 into four quarter sections or quadrants 28. Integral base support ring 23 provides support for each of the four quarter sections 28 of base 11. Although base 11 is preferably circular, other shaped bases could also be used. Base 11 is preferably constructed from a moldable plastic material such as high-impact polystyrene, but other plastic materials or other materials such as sheet metal or wood could also be used.

Biconvex lens-shaped elements 15 and 16 are provided with integral guides 21 and 22 respectively which permit elements 15 and 16 to slide horizontally back and forth in slots 12 and 13, respectively. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, elements 15 and 16 are flat, biconvex lens-shaped elements wherein the curvature of each convex shaped surface comprises a segment of a circle having substantially the same circumference as the upper surface 29 of base 11.

Although elements 15 and 16 as illustrated in the drawings, and preferably, are biconvex lens-shaped, in other embodiments these elements could be other shapes such as circular, rectangular, diamond and elliptical.

As shown in the drawings, elements 15 and 16 are each further provided with an integral pivot post 19 and 20, respectively. Pivot posts 19 and 20 are located at the center of elements l5 and 16 and contain snap-fit retaining means 26 and 27 for pivotably connecting elements 15 and 16 with crank 17 by means of pivot post receiving bores 33 and 34. The centers of bores 33 and 34 are spaced apart at a distance not closer than the total of one-half the length of element 15 (or 16) plus one-half the width of element 15 (or 16), in order to permit elements 15 and 16 to slide across each other's path without colliding. A close-fit clearance is preferably provided between crank 17 and elements 15 and 16 by means of spacers 24 and 25 which are shown in the drawings as being integral parts of pivot elements 15 and 16 respectively. Spacers 24 and 25 could also be either separate elements such as washers or integral parts of crank 17.

n a preferred embodiment bores 33 and 34 are spaced apart at a distance just sufficient to provide minimum clearance between elements 15 and 16. For example, biconvex lens-shaped elements 15 and 16 may each have a length of 2.366 inches and a width of 1.0 inch. In such an instance, the centers of bores 33 and 34 would be spaced about 1.70 inches apart. If elements 15 and 16 having the above exemplified dimensions are used in combination with a crank 17 having bores 33 and 34 spaced apart about 1.70 inches and a base 11 having an upper surface 29 with a diameter of about 3 .32 inches, a particularly fascinating appearance results when the crank is rotated (either clockwise or counterclockwise). During such rotation, a vertice of one of the elements, for example, vertice 30 of element 15, follows (or travels along a path defined by) a convex edge of the other element, e.g., element 16, and the device gives the appearance that elements 15 and 16 will collide; however, they do not collide, but rather slide past each other. During one complete revolution or rotation of crank 17, elements 15 and 16 each complete a full sliding cycle.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art. 1

I claim:

1. A kinetic amusement device comprising a base provided with a pair of slots which perpendicularly intersect at the center of the said base; a pair of horizontally and linearly slidable, substantially flat, biconvex lens-shaped elements disposed above the base; integral guides dependent from said elements, said guides position in said slots; and crank means connecting both of said elements so that when said crank means is rotated said elements slide back and forth above their respective slots. without blocking each others sliding movement.

2. The device as defined by claim 1 wherein the curvature of each of said biconvex lens-shaped elements comprises a segment of a circle having substantially the same circumference as said circular upper surface.

3. The device as defined by claim 1 wherein said biconvex lens-shaped elements and crank means are adapted and connected so that during the rotation of said crank, a vertice of one of said pair of elements follows the periphery of the other of said elements. 

1. A kinetic amusement device comprising a base provided with a pair of slots which perpendicularly intersect at the center of the said base; a pair of horizontally and linearly slidable, substantially flat, biconvex lens-shaped elements disposed above the base; integral guides dependent from said elements, said guides position in said slots; and crank means connecting both of said elements so that when said crank means is rotated said elements slide back and forth above their respective slots. , without blocking each other''s sliding movement.
 2. The device as defined by claim 1 wherein the curvature of each of said biconvex lens-shaped elements comprises a segment of a circle having substantially the same circumference as said circular upper surface.
 3. The device as defined by claim 1 wherein said biconvex lens-shaped elements and crank means are adapted and connected so that during the rotation of said crank, a vertice of one of said pair of elements follows the periphery of the other of said elements. 